Harvest Care Group

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Harvest Care Group 1 Harvest Care Group

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Registered provider: Harvest Care Group Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

The provider registered with Ofsted on 15 February 2025. It offers ring-fenced shared and solo occupancy accommodation for up to 33 children across 7 premises.

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provider

At the time of this visit, 7 children aged 16 and 17 were living in 3 of the shared ring-fenced premises.

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provider

The registered service manager left in November 2025. The nominated individual stood down in February 2026.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a full inspection on 25 February 2026. The inspection identified widespread shortfalls, resulting in 3 compliance notices being issued relating to leadership and management, the accommodation standard, and notifications of significant safeguarding events.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review the progress made towards meeting the steps outlined in the compliance notices. The visit was partly facilitated by the director, who was abroad. The acting manager was unavailable. The nominated individual has left their role.

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This monitoring visit

There is no effective overview of the service. Since the full inspection, the director has not been present to ensure appropriate oversight. Managers report receiving conflicting or partial messages from the director, which undermine their ability to plan for the service. There is no registered service manager.

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This monitoring visit

The previous nominated individual is working as the designated safeguarding lead and contributed to this visit. The director said he believes the nominated individual is Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Harvest Care Group 2 still in post. Arrangements for recruitment to the nominated individual position are yet to be made.

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This monitoring visit

Staff say that their wages are often late, and they cannot predict when they will be paid. Many staff and managers rely on second jobs. The uncertainty across the workforce undermines consistency and stability for children.

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This monitoring visit

The leaders have introduced a new electronic recording system. During this visit, the managers were unable to access the system and, in some cases, could not find children’s files.

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This monitoring visit

Access to staff files remains limited to the human resources manager, so the inspectors could not see evidence of safer recruitment, despite gaps identified during the last full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

When children move homes, relevant information about them is not passed on to the staff who will be supporting them. Inspectors were unable to access information about certain children, including one who had recently received immediate notice to leave the service.

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This monitoring visit

The rental arrangement for one of the premises has been terminated due to nonpayment of bills. The provider failed to notify Ofsted of the closure of 4 premises, limiting the regulator’s oversight. Some children have moved to premises that remain open.

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This monitoring visit

Home managers have introduced weekly managers’ meetings. However, each home operates as a separate entity without the oversight of a service manager. Home managers are not aware of new recording templates that the director has introduced. One home manager has not received supervision since November 2025.

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This monitoring visit

The statement of purpose contains incorrect information about the category of registration.

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This monitoring visit

The children speak positively about 2 of the homes where they now live. They say they like their rooms and prefer the house. The poor conditions in one house remain unchanged. Cleaning staff no longer visit because of issues with payments from the provider.

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This monitoring visit

Children are not prepared for moving on. Two of the children who left the service did so in an unplanned way and with immediate notice given. Support during the transition from the provider has been limited to attending meetings and transporting the children’s belongings to their new addresses.

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This monitoring visit

Some children are in education, and some are making progress, particularly with learning English. The complexity and risks associated with the needs of the children currently using the service have decreased because those who were not suitable for supported accommodation and had higher or more complex needs have left. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Harvest Care Group 3 Compliance notices have been reissued. The regulations raised at the full inspection remain. Ofsted continues to monitor this provider. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Harvest Care Group 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and the ‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

*The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the supported accommodation undertaking that puts children first and prioritises their wellbeing and development.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the supported accommodation undertaking in a way that is consistent with the ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the undertaking’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work effectively as a team, where appropriate, to meet the needs of children;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the supported accommodation undertaking has sufficient staff to support and accommodate children safely and effectively;

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Requirement Due date

implement recruitment practices that ensure staff are suitable to work with children and to keep them safe from harm;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that arrangements are in place to manage referrals of children to the supported accommodation undertaking and admissions of children to premises used as supported accommodation, including, where relevant, emergency referrals and admissions;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that arrangements are in place for the supervision, training and development of staff;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that a workforce plan (see regulation 10) for the supported accommodation undertaking is in place. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(j)) 7 June 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Harvest Care Group 5 *The accommodation standard is that children experience a comfortable and secure living environment.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used as supported accommodation

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Requirement Due date

are suitable for the purposes of supported accommodation and are accessible, safe, secure and well-maintained

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Requirement Due date

offer a comfortable, positive and nurturing environment, while respecting children’s need for privacy;

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Requirement Due date

are adequately maintained so as to provide a welcoming and homely environment within both individual and shared living spaces;

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Requirement Due date

only use devices for monitoring or surveillance in communal areas and then only if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to each child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(vi)(vii)(viii)(c)(iv)) 7 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

*An organisation may only carry on a supported accommodation undertaking if—

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Requirement Due date

each director of the organisation, except for a director who is the nominated individual, who is involved in the carrying on of the supported accommodation undertaking by that organisation, satisfies the requirements in paragraph (6), and the organisation has notified the CIECSS of the name and address of the nominated individual.

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character.

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Requirement Due date

be a director of the organisation carrying on the supported accommodation undertaking in respect of which they are the nominated individual;

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Requirement Due date

satisfy the requirements in paragraph (5)(a) to (d). (Regulation 11 (4)(a)(b) (6)(a) (7)(a)(b)) 7 June 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Harvest Care Group 6 *If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the supported accommodation undertaking, the registered provider must, without delay, give the CIECSS notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed, and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 14 (2)(a)(b)) 7 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

The protection standard is that children are enabled to feel safe and that their needs are met.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation or any other harm, and act to reduce such risk;

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Requirement Due date

work collaboratively with children to help them understand how to keep safe, by offering guidance and support on how to minimise any potential risk of harm. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(f) (ii)(iii)) 7 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

“the 2022 Regulations” means the Care Standards Act 2000 (Extension of the Application of Part 2 to Supported Accommodation) (England) Regulations 2022(1);

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Requirement Due date

“category of supported accommodation” means one of the following types of supported accommodation—

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Requirement Due date

supported accommodation in a self-contained unit, where the accommodation is for the sole use of the child or for the child and other individuals living with the child as agreed by the 7 June 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Harvest Care Group 7 accommodating authority or the supported accommodation undertaking;

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Requirement Due date

supported accommodation in a shared or group living situation in premises used to accommodate only looked after children or care leavers;

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Requirement Due date

supported accommodation in a shared or group living situation in premises which are not limited to accommodating looked after children or care leavers;

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Requirement Due date

supported accommodation provided by an individual or individuals in a private residence which is the main residence of that individual or those individuals. (Regulation 2 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that only children who fall in the correct category of registration are supported in the service.

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Requirement Due date

The support standard is that children receive individual and tailored support that meets their needs.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that children are encouraged and enabled to take a lead role in determining the support they receive and to participate in and influence how the supported accommodation operates;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that plans for support are based on initial referral information, are meaningful and are created in full consultation with the child, taking account of relevant plans for the child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure a plan for support is in place to support the child to develop the resilience and skills required to transition out of supported accommodation when the child is ready to live more independently. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(a)(b)(k)) 7 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the following matters in respect of the supported accommodation undertaking—

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Requirement Due date

the category or categories of supported accommodation it offers; 7 June 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Harvest Care Group 8 the characteristics of the children for whom it is intended the supported accommodation undertaking will provide accommodation and support, including the age range, number and sex of the children;

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Requirement Due date

the organisational structure, including management structure and staffing arrangements. (Regulation 9 (1)(b)(d)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile, in relation to the supported accommodation undertaking, a plan (“the workforce plan”) which covers the following matters in respect of the recruitment and employment of all staff—

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Requirement Due date

the experience and qualifications of managers and other staff, and any further training required for those managers and staff;

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Requirement Due date

the processes and timescales for staff to complete induction, probation and core training, including in safeguarding and health and safety;

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Requirement Due date

the process for managing and addressing poor performance;

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Requirement Due date

the process and timescales for supervision and monitoring of staff.

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Requirement Due date

keep the workforce plan under review and, where appropriate, revise it, and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the workforce plan available on request to the CIECSS. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e) (2)(a)(b)) 7 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) in relation to each child accommodated by the supported accommodation undertaking which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 2,

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)) 7 June 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Harvest Care Group 9 If premises are no longer used, or intended to be available for use, as supported accommodation by the supported accommodation undertaking, the registered person must give notice in writing to the CIECSS no later than 10 working days after the registered person becomes aware of the decision to cease use of the premises. (Regulation 34 (2)) 7 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must carry on the supported accommodation undertaking in a manner which is likely to ensure that it will be financially viable for the purpose of achieving the aims and objectives set out in the statement of purpose. (Regulation 35 (1)) 7 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up information received by Ofsted and/or to ensure that the supported accommodation provider was complying with regulation.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Harvest Care Group 10

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Harvest Care Group Ltd

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: 78 Queens Road, Watford, Hertfordshire WD17 2LA

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Inspectors

Daniela Ferrario, Social Care Inspector Ann Adesoye, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Harvest Care Group 11 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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